Cyclobenzaprine Side Effects
Serious Adverse Side Effects
Cyclobenzaprine has serious adverse side effects associated with it such as:
- Cardiovascular side effects such as irregular heartbeats.
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as cholestasis.
- Hepatic side effects such as hepatitis and jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes.
- Immunological side effects such as anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening allergic reaction, and immune hypersensitivity reaction.
Common and Less Severe Side Effects
More common, adverse side effects of this drug are:
- Cardiovascular side effects such as palpitations
- Gastrointestinal side effects such as bad taste in the mouth, constipation, indigestion, nausea, dryness of the pharynx, and dry mouth
- Neurological side effects such as asthenia, confusion, dizziness, headache and drowsiness
- Ophthalmic side effects such as blurry vision
- Psychiatric side effects such as anxiety
If you or a loved one have suffered serious adverse side effects as a result of taking this drug, please do not hesitate to
contact someone who can help you.
Warnings & Recalls for Cyclobenzaprine
Cyclobenzaprine and Substance Abuse
Many muscle relaxants have a high risk for abuse, especially when taken improperly, at high doses, or for an extended period of time. Abusing cyclobenzaprine can cause toxic levels of this medication to build up in the blood stream, resulting in serious side effects, and in some cases, death. Do not take more of this medication than prescribed, and consult your doctor before taking this medication if you have a history of drug abuse or addiction.
Cyclobenzaprine Contraindications
Cyclobenzaprine is contraindicated in patients with a history of the following:
- Irregular heartbeat and other heart disturbances
- Concurrent use with MAOIs, especially within the past 14 days, which can cause hyperpyretic crisis seizures and possibly death
- Hypersensitivity to any of the components of this drug
- Hyperthyroidism
There are a series of warnings and preexisting conditions that a patient might have that may hinder a patient’s ability to take
Cyclobenzaprine:
- Concurrent use with central nervous system depressants which can lead to an increased risk of additive effects
- The duration of treatment with Cyclobenzaprine should be only up to 2 to 3 weeks.
- Elderly patients are dissuaded from taking Cyclobenzaprine due to increased plasma concentration
- Angle-closure glaucoma
- High doses of Cyclobenzaprine have been found to be deadly.
- Hepatic impairments
- Increased pressure in the eye
- Urinary retention
Children are usually not permitted to take
Cyclobenzaprine due to its action on the central nervous system. Typically only adult patients are prescribed
Cyclobenzaprine due to their circumstances.If you or a loved one have suffered serious adverse side effects as a result of taking this drug, please do not hesitate to
contact someone who can help you.
Cyclobenzaprine Treatment and Use
Cyclobenzaprine is a generic muscle relaxant that, when combined physical therapy, rest, and other methods, treats pain and discomfort caused by muscle injuries, sprains, or strains. When it comes to treating pain in acute musculoskeletal conditions, it is regarded as the most well-studied drug in the market specifically for this application. It is worth noting that a new bedtime formulation of this drug has been approved to treat fibromyalgia.
Cyclobenzaprine’s official FDA-labeled indications are for skeletal muscle spasms, but it may also be used off-label for the treatment of fibromyalgia and temporomandibular joint disorder, which is acute and chronic pain in the joint that connects the mandible to the skull.
How does Cyclobenzaprine work?
As a muscle relaxant, cyclobenzaprine interferes with the absorption of nerve signals in the brain that cause feelings of pain. This causes a sedative-like effect in areas affected with pain or discomfort.
Dosing Instructions for Cyclobenzaprine
The amount of cyclobenzaprine you use is dependent on your age, whether you are taking the extended-release capsule or the immediate-release tablet, and the condition you are treating.
Immediate-release tablets
- The suggested dosage for adults is 5 mg taken up to three times a day.
- Adjustments may be made based on the effectiveness of this medication and the appearance of side effects. Dosage may be increased 10 mg three times daily.
Extended-release tablets
- The suggested adult dosage is 15 mg to be taken in a single dose daily.
- This dose may be increased to 30 mg daily if the lower dose does not prove to be effective.
It is unknown if this medication is safe for consumption in adolescent patients, and should not be used by patients who are 15 years of age or younger.
Extended release capsules should not be used in patients who are elderly(65 years of age) or who have a history of liver injury. Cyclobenzaprine should only be used for short-term relief, and is not a cure for pain, only a method for pain management.
